Short Summary

SOUTH VIETNAM'S NEW CHIEF OF STATE IS MR. PHAN KHAC SUU, A 61-YEAR-OLD ELDER STATESMAN.?

Description

SOUTH VIETNAM'S NEW CHIEF OF STATE IS MR. PHAN KHAC SUU, A 61-YEAR-OLD ELDER STATESMAN. HE TOOK UP OFFICE ON MONDAY AND ASKED MAJOR GENERAL NGUYEN KHANH'S GOVERNMENT TO CARRY ON UNTIL A NEW ADMINISTRATION IS FORMED.

GENERAL KHANH AND HIS CABINET HANDED IN THEIR RESIGNATION TO MR. SUU AFTER HE FORMALLY ASSUMED OFFICE. THE CEREMONIAL HANDING OVER OF POWER FROM MILITARY TO CIVILIANS TOOK PLACE WHEN THE ACTING CHIEF OF STATE, MAJOR GENERAL DUONG VAN MINH, AND GENERAL KHANH - TWO MEMBERS OF THE RULING TRIUMVIRATE - SIGNED OVER THEIR POWERS TO MR. SUU.

THE MILITARY HAD HELD SUPREME POWER SINCE LAST NOVEMBER WHEN GENERAL MINH LED THE ARMED FORCES AGAINST EX-PRESIDENT DIEM.

GENERAL KHANH IS NOW EXPECTED TO CONCENTRATE AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF ON RALLYING AND REORGANISING THE ARMED FORCES IN THE WAR AGAINST THE VIETCONG.